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Continued growth in east Chico is likely to lower the groundwater table and solutions will need to be found in the future, water officials say. Groundwater levels in four areas of Butte County appear to be declining. Much of the decline is attributed to growth and changes in land use. The county has established what it calls "index wells." These are wells that are monitored every year to serve as an indicator in changes in the underground aquifer that is tapped through wells. One well is in the southeast part of Chico, near Bidwell Park and Big Chico Creek. It was three feet lower than normal last spring. The well on the west side of town is one foot lower, which is the lowest recorded. Last spring historical lows or near historic lows were noted in three other areas: * The Pentz east of Highway 99, south of Butte Creek and north of Dry Creek. * Durham/Dayton, west of Butte Creek and north of Western Canal. * Thermalito around Lake Oroville's forebay and afterbay. Toccoy Dudley of the state Department of Water Resources said he interviewed water managers in three of these areas, but has yet to talk with managers in the Thermalito area. Dudley said Mark Lightcap, manager of California Water Service, told him growth of development in Chico has required him to put in about one new well a year. Chico residents are dependent upon groundwater pumping. One well services 400-500 homes. The lower water level in Chico wells was noted the last four years. Dudley
said the groundwater levels should not be alarming. Since 1985 there have
only been two wet years and the rains those years were concentrated into
a short amount of time. That means most of the water Dudley also talked to Rick Ponciano, manager of the Rancho Esquon Ranch, a 5,000-acre ranch of mainly rice in the Pentz area. Ponciano said he had noted lower well levels, and attributed it to increased pumping of groundwater to flood rice fields during the winter. Assistant agricultural commissioner Louie Mendoza was asked about the Durham/Dayton area. He said last spring a strong decline in well levels was noted. Dudley
said Mendoza thought the groundwater levels were timed close to a week-long
cold snap. Almond orchards in the area pumped groundwater to spray the
trees for frost protection. All of those wells pumping at Dudley said it would be prudent for the county to talk about long-term planning and other options for recharging the groundwater in these areas. "I just want to get people thinking about it," he said. He said he expects the groundwater to bounce back in those areas, although continued growth in east Chico might be a longer-term problem. "You have a lot of time before you have a big problem," Dudley said. |
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